Hope & Truth Ministry
Be hope, be love, live with truth.
For the wondering, the doubting, the hurting, and the hopeful. For people without a congregation, and for people who have found theirs but want another voice on the road. You are welcome here. We are all part of God's diverse and beautiful family.
From the lectionary
Recent reflections
Sermons and reflections in keeping with the Revised Common Lectionary. Check weekly for new material.
November 14, 2026
Fear of Talents - Matthew 25 - Proper 28A
Reading the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) with Psalm 90 and Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, this sermon asks what we bury out of fear. Tony notes that the third servant hid the talent out of fear of judgment and exposure rather than malice, and argues that fear, though a natural way to protect ourselves, often leads to a cramped, hidden, half-lived life that costs us the very things we value. He calls listeners to honor the gifts and people entrusted to them, step into the light, and walk with the courage of the Spirit so that we "may gain a wise heart" (Psalm 90:12).
November 8, 2026
Are You Prepared? - Matthew 25 - Proper 27A
Reading the parable of the ten bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13) with Joshua 24:1-3, 14-25 and Psalm 70, this sermon asks what it means to be prepared. Starting from the Cub Scout motto and getting ready for a long bike ride, Tony argues that preparation is not a matter of saying the right prayers or hanging Joshua 24:15 on the wall, but of carrying God into daily life. Being prepared means living the verses now: making amends, treating every neighbor with dignity and grace, and being the face of God to people who need to see God today.
November 1, 2026
Being Saintly - Matthew 5 - All Saints - Year A
Preaching on the Beatitudes for All Saints Day (Matthew 5:1-12) alongside 1 John 3:1-3, Psalm 34, and Revelation 7:9-17, this sermon presents them as the foundation of Jesus's teaching and a framework for a good life. Tony argues that the first four blessings describe all of us, poor in spirit, mourning, meek, and hungry for what we lack, while the last four show how to live: with mercy, peacemaking, a pure heart, and a stand for justice. We honor the saints by living these blessings as a way of life rather than a transaction, seeing everyone as children of God (1 John 3:1).